IVC Filter Perforates Vein, Misses Blood Clots that Lodge in Lung

An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a cage-like device inserted into the vena cava, the largest vein in the body, and is designed to catch blood clots before they enter the heart or lungs. They are mainly used in patients who cannot tolerate blood thinners. Many times, however, IVC filters, particularly the temporary – or retrievable – designs, may pose more risk than reward.

Shakira G. from New Jersey had the Option ELITE Retrievable IVC filter implanted on Oct. 20, 2014, at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. On April 25, 2015, a CT scan of her abdomen showed that the legs of Shakira’s filter had perforated the inferior vena cava. Three weeks later, another abdominal CT scan revealed a pulmonary infarction, a condition in which a portion of the lung dies due to a blocked artery. A month later, a third CT scan, this time of her chest, showed a blood clot had lodged in the lower left lobe of her pulmonary arteries.

Shakira has now filed a lawsuit against Rex Medical, the maker of the Option ELITE filter, accusing the company of failing to perform adequate clinical testing before allowing the device to be sold.

“The Option ELITE Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filter implanted in Plaintiff was defective and unreasonably dangerous,” said Shakira’s attorney. “As a direct result, Plaintiff suffered significant injuries, including but not limited to perforation of the vena cava and pulmonary embolism.”

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